TONY West showcased his talents to the full at the Strand Hotel, with a powerful performance of vocals, comedy and audiemce participation.
Remembered from BBC Television's 'The Visit,' Tony, soon won the audience with a slick, foot-tapping and hilarious three hour show, that included vibrant slots from wife Charlotte, who enthralled with a range of country classics.
Big in stature, huge in talent - Tony ended his marathon with the punters demanding more of the same.
THE Pantomime season was overshadowed by the death of acrobat Rafshan Alimov who was critically injured performing a daring springboard stunt during the Tower Circus presentation of Aladdin.
The 24-year-old member of the 10-piece Russian Pouzanov Troupe, died at the Royal Preston Hospital on December 23rd - three days after his fall during a Matinee performance.
The show itself included all the usual madcap jokes and outrageously colourful costumes traditionally associated with a panto.
But throw in several spectacular circus acts, including dramatic acrobatics and impressive juggling, and the result is a unique blend of excellent all-round entertainment.
Aladdin, the classic Arabian Nights tale, is the Tower's latest circus panto, devised, produced and directed by Laci Endresz Snr.
Laci Endresz Jnr – better known as Mooky The Clown – headed-up the non-stop action as Aladdin and was ably supported by younger brother Bubu as the Genie of the Lamp.
Mooky extreemly funny, particularly when interacting with the audience and fellow characters who included Richard Cingalee (the Emperor), Shelley Cingalee (Widow Twanky), Clare McDowall (Princess Jasmine), Abanaza (Nigel Taylor) and Suki, the Handmaiden (Yu Yin).
The international cast also featured circus artistes from China, Moscow, Belarus and Moldova, and some of the acts were truly breathtaking.
Try to picture an acrobat performing backflips after being propelled 30 or so feet into the air, then try to imagine him doing it having to land the right way up strapped to a giant stilt. It needed to be seen to be believed.
Panto scenes and circus acts alternated throughout the show, which inevitably demanded plenty of prop changing on a regular basis, but it was all managed without any fuss. with many thousands of gallons of water filling the circus ring to produce an exquisite fountain display.
FOR its twelfth annual pantomime, UK Productions again stuck to its tried and trusted policy of combining the expected traditional elements of Pantomime with a keen ear for what was currently happening musically and a keen eye for keeping everything fresh.
So while youngsters could immediately recognise the now compulsory High School Musical moment, adults rejoiced in some irreverent humour pitched way beyond their offspring’s knowledge of current affairs.
The latter was largely thanks to Steve Royle’s Buttons, notching up his sixth consecutive panto at the Grand and still able to sound like he’s ad-libbing every moment. His former concentration on juggling skills now very much plays second fiddle to his alternative comedy talents.
Sophia Thierens was a breath of fresh air as a brunette and sweetly far from feisty feminine Cinderella, whilst ex-Corrie resident Amanda Barrie was equally appealing as a dizzy Fairy Godmother.
Jamie Morris and Terry Keeble provided the additional comedy as the predictably flamboyant ugly sisters Silly Cilla and Daisy - grotesque costumes galore, never too scary and plenty of 'Little Britain' reference points for the kids.
Don Crann’s Baron Hardup made the best of what he’d been given, while Mostyn Lawrence and Charles Brunton approached the Prince and Dandini as if auditioning for West End roles.
All in all, a tight, slick and very entertaining version of the timeless classic fable.
